Can you hear the school bells ringing?
Did you know that at one time, more than 70 one-room and two-room elementary schools (including union schools) dotted the landscape throughout Rideau Lakes in the former townships of Bastard and South Burgess, North Crosby, South Crosby and South Elmsley? It’s true!
Although education was happening among settlers in private residences and churches, it wasn’t until the Common School Act for Upper Canada was passed in 1850 that school sections were created for the administration of rural public schools. A school section (S.S.) was from about 5 to 8 km and administered by a board of three elected trustees. They were responsible for hiring teachers, upkeep and maintenance of the school property and equipment, as well as the finances of the school. Schools that were on the boundary between more than one school section were known as Union School Section (U.S.S.) and there were also Separate School Sections or Roman Catholic School Sections.
Getting to school
At first, students and staff walked to school no matter the weather. According to information from local historian, Diane Haskins, school buses didn’t exist in the townships until 1940. This caused students to become rather ingenious in their modes of transportation. Stories still swirl about a little girl who rode her horse to school daily after which the horse returned home by itself, several miles down the road. The girl walked home by herself in the afternoons. Another tale tells of a student who harnessed his dogs to a sleigh in winter for ease (and company) on the journey to school. Once he arrived there, the dogs would wait around until the end of the day to make the trip back home. Surely these methods of getting to school helped shorten the trip – especially in the cold of winter!
Take a look at just a few of the many schoolhouses that helped educate families as the communities of Rideau Lakes took shape.
The Red Brick School
The Red Brick School in Elgin is a prime example of the late-19th century campaign to improve public education through building more stimulating learning environments. Note the fine architectural features of the charming school! Be sure to visit the Red Brick School to marvel at the inside of a beautifully preserved heritage classroom from chalkboards to desks, maps and meticulously researched displays that dive into the history of the community.
Photo: Rideau Lakes Public Library
Freeland School, 1912
The Freeland School located in the former township of Bastard and South Burgess was built in 1857. The Freeland School property was deeded by the Eaton family. The following photograph, dated 1912, was taken on the occasion of Mr. Chipman's return from British Columbia after an absence of 40 years. Mr. Chipman had taught at this school. Learn more about the Historic Settlement of Freeland. In Memoirs of the Bolton Family by Ferris Bolton, 1932, he writes about attending the school in the winter while working on the farm in the summer months. He was able to skate part of the way to school! The Freeland School closed in 1947, having also served as a centre for social events of the Freeland community.
Left to right: Ezra Chipman (standing), Myrtle Waffle, Lucile Dowsett, Mrs. Annie Dowsett.
Philipsville Schools, 1910
Photograph of the Philipsville school in 1910.
Photo: Diane Haskins "My Own Four Walls" originally in Philipsville Lady Tweedsmuir Book
The earlier wooden structure, pictured above, was replaced by the brick building in the following photo.
Photo: Diane Haskins "My Own Four Walls" originally loaned by Clela Haskin
Front row: H. Knapp, Clifford McCollum, ? Sawyer, Essie McCollum, Pearl Aimer
Second row: Easton Davison, ? Knapp, ? Burt, ?, Leonard Burt, Ellen Greenham, Jack Greenham, Lottie Carr, Clarence Wood, George Aimer, B. Sawyer, Ben Shire
Third row: Ella Dwyer, Blanche Carr, Aileen Topping, ? Topping, Hester Tackaberry, Blanche Wood, Helen Haskin, Lena Haskin, Eleda Greenham, Allan Haskin, Steve Pier
Fourth row: Merton Denney, teacher Kate Jordon, Morley Willows, Hallie Shire, Madalene Burt, Francis Burt.
California School, 1953
The California School was tied to the community even through name recognition, as the hamlet’s name first appeared in a newspaper article around 1863 in conjunction with a concert put on by school children at Jones Falls. An earlier school was replaced around 1895 with a newer structure, which operated until the early 1960s. Read more about the historic settlement of California. (photo shows the school students and teacher in 1953).
California School ,1953 Coons School, Hartsgravel Road 1877-1967
Coon’s School was a small, simple one room schoolhouse which operated for 90 years on Hartsgravel Road - and is still standing today as a private residence. The first school on Hartsgravel Road was a log building on the opposite side of the road. The red brick building was built in 1877 on donated land. At first, the teachers at the school would board with local families throughout the week as the school was quite isolated. It later became known for its teachers using interesting means of transportation to get to work each day! One teacher rowed across Lower Beverley Lake each day and then walked, another rode horseback and stabled his horse throughout the day at a nearby farm, still another rode the old B&W railroad from Newboro and the train slowed down enough where it crossed Hartsgravel so he could jump off the train! Read more fun anecdotes about Coon’s School as published in the North Leeds Lantern in 1986 here.
Coon's School on Hartsgravel Road Elgin Continuation School, 1959
The Elgin Continuation School was started in the 1920s and operated as a continuation school until 1960 when Rideau District High School opened; after that date it housed South Crosby students until the present South Crosby Public School opened in 1963. It was demolished and now the seniors apartments in Elgin stand where the school once inhabited.
Elgin Continuation School
Halladay School, 1868
The first school in North Crosby Ward was a log structure built in the 1830s or 40s, on the north side of the Westport Road, not far outside of Salem. By 1848 this school had eighty students, half boys and half girls. The last teacher was Miss Matilda Jane Hamilton, in 1868, when the log school was replaced by the stone “Halladay School”. Noah Halladay was a blacksmith who purchased acreage on the Ninth Concession in 1837 where he farmed and ran his blacksmith shop. The new Halladay School was built on the edge of his property and remains today at the corner of Westport Road and Concession Road 9. It is a one-and-a-half storey, three-bay, stone structure with a large, windowed vestibule. The unique 12-over-12 pane windows were especially large for schools of that time, letting natural light flood into the charming school. It closed as a school in 1966 and is now a private residence. Read more about North Crosby.
Did you know?
The stone building currently housing the Newboro Branch of the Rideau Lakes Public Library has had many incarnations. At one time it, too, served the community as the Newboro Public School, before becoming a courthouse and municipal council chambers. Take a look at the side where the main door is for the library: you can still see where there were separate doors for the boys and girls to enter the schoolhouse.
Rideau Lakes has a long tradition of education and schooling – as evidenced by schoolhouse history spanning almost 175 years across the township!
Source: Our Ontario - Lakes and Islands -Times Past https://images.ourontario.ca/lakesandislands/search
